EastEnders' future addressed by BBC boss after ratings decline

EastEnders fans can breathe a sigh of relief as BBC boss Charlotte Moore has finally addressed what the future of the popular soap looks like after facing a steady decline in ratings.

During a panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Moore was asked about EastEnders and its declining viewership, to which she responded: "It's such an important title for us. Of course, we are all seeing the way audiences are shifting.

"Young audiences more than any other. Do I think soap will still play a part in the ecology for some time? Absolutely."

charlotte moore, bbc director of content, speaks on stage

Chris Jackson//Getty Images

She also stressed that the soap was a very important title for them, and teased that there are "big plans" on the way for the show's future.

"[EastEnders] is an important title for us – the most popular young audience title we have on iPlayer in terms of the volume of people it brings in every week. And there are big plans to evolve EastEnders creatively," she said.

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"It is an incredibly important title. We are all seeing the way audiences are shifting. And young audiences are shifting more than any other and they are looking across different platforms."

Meanwhile on EastEnders, Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, who plays Ash Panesar on the show, has teased a dramatic future for the Panesars.

ravi gulari, nina gupta, ash panesar, eastenders

BBC

In an interview with Inside Soap, Garcha opened up about what we can expect to see from the Panesars in upcoming episodes.

"Well, it's no secret [Suki's husband Nishandeep is] coming out of prison," she said. "We saw recently where Ash was expressing how she never really got to know her father.

"She loves her dad. To see him again, I think she would be floored. What I will say is that there are some exciting times to come for the family. It's roller-coaster, edge-of-your-seat and emotional stuff. Get the tissues ready!"

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One, with some episodes airing on BBC Two during summer sporting events. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.